Lynne's Pinning Board

January 2010

To My Dear Friends

I can’t believe it’s time for me to send you another program, I love the Christmas season but I am now focusing on 2010 and hoping we will have something on the program to bring you to the carriage studio.

There have been made in the carriage beautiful blouses in silk dupioni, linen and cotton, cami’s for special occasions, baby wraps, daygowns, bibs, booties and gorgeous christening gowns, smocked dresses for very special children and grandchildren and nightgowns like you just can’t buy and of course doll dressing. We also had personalised wedding handbags and handkerchiefs made here - a very special gift for a special bride or friend.

Everyone who comes can achieve so much because they don’t have the distractions you have when stitching at home and David organises a beautiful lunch for us.

We are sewing on Wednesday and Saturday with patchwork reserved for Thursday. Those of you who have come to the carriage studio know that I will try to adapt to your requirements so give me a ring before the class so I can be prepared. Students that come on a regular basis with ongoing projects are always welcome.

Love & God’s Blessings

Lynne

PS Fees include, tuition and lunch, tea and coffee all day, there is always lots of laughter, joy and sharing at the studio and some special friendships are formed.

PPS Belinda was recently approached to host a Hen's Day at the Carriage Studio to learn how to become a Domestic Goddess. This type of experience in the country is a great way to create a lasting memory for the Bride To Be and also learn some tips for the start of married life. The format could include some combination of the following activities:

1. Cooking basics – learn and taste a selection of easy and delicious meals
2. Sewing – complete a small and easy hand embroidery project
3. Make up demonstration from one of Sydney’s leading make up artists – a special focus for the bride

We also have a selection of fun ideas and games we can assist the bridesmaids to make the day personal and special for the Bride.  Enjoy a fun and relaxing day in the country. The most important thing is to have fun with the Bride. Minimum 10 people ($100 pp).

August 2009

To My Dear Friends

Yesterday as I walked down the drive I saw the buds on the trees and I realised spring is here. The weather has been glorious and it makes me feel like trying to become fit and a little slimmer, so I’ll commit to walking more and maybe getting on the exercise bike (while I watch my favourite tv shows). Unfortunately I sit and sew and don’t make time to exercise. We are nearly to the end of August and the year is passing very quickly.

We have had a lovely day in the carriage today, a beautiful Christening gown is being sewn, a pretty pink smocked bishop, 2 nightgowns and 2 cushions were being completed. I am making a new blouse from beautiful Handkerchief Belfast Linen (also for sale on my ebay store). I will put a photo on my website when it is finished.

We have a weekend workshop on the 12th and 13th September, it would be great to see you and an excuse to get away and indulge in sewing. I am sure you will create something beautiful!

Belinda is home for the weekend as Trent is golfing in the Hunter Valley and we have had a talk to Fiona on Skype, it is amazing that you can speak and see her in Singapore.

I have updated on my list of essential a items you should keep in your sewing bay. All these things are available at the Carriage or on the web eBay shop e-mail me if you need anything. These items will help you with your special Heirloom Sewing Techniques that include smocking, fine needle embroidery, lace insertion and shaping, tucks, pintucks, puffing, pinstitch and machine embroidery.

Sewing Bag Essentials

• Needles for hand work-
  · Crewel Chenille
  · Between/ Sharps
  · Tapestry
  · Straw
• Needles for Machine sewing-
  · Universal 60-70
  · Wing Needle 100 – 120 used for entredeux stitches
  · Twin Needle 1.6/70 or 1.6/80 2.0/70 or 2.0/80
  · Universal 120 Needle for a machine with pinstitch
• Scissors (one of my favourite things) If you don’t have good scissors, it makes the job very difficult
  · Sharp and pointed for cutting threads
  · Blunt ended scissors for cutting behind lace
  · Dressmaking scissors 8” or 9”
  · Paper and cutting out scissors.
• Glass headed pins in a container or pin cushion (Plastic headed pins can be affected by a hot iron)
• Tape measure and small ruler
• Threads, cotton is preferred, the finer the better, white and ivory
• Machine Threads
  · Mettler 60 or similar, good for joining lace and entredeux
  · Madeira Cotona 80 for pinstitch and entredeux stitches
  · Rasant 120, cotton covered polyester (strong fine thread)
  · Rayon 30 or 40 wt. for machine embroidery and bobbin fill
• Hand Threads
  · DMC 6 strand cotton embroidery threads
  · Madeira 4 strand silk embroidery thread
  · Silk Ribbon 2, 4 and 7 mm
  Keep all the colours that you love, then you will enjoy your embroidery

• A thimble in silver or leather. I love my old sterling silver thimble
• A small and medium sized hoop. I like machine hoops
• 2B and HB pencil, blue washaway marking pen, a purple fading pen and also a chalk pencil
• Quick Unpick or seam ripper as the Americans call them
• Sharp fine pointed Tweezers are always handy
• Needle Threader is essential in my sewing bag
• A magnifying Glass is something I need
• a good light is a bonus in some conditions
• Bees wax for strengthening and smoothing threads
• Stabilizer light weight for fine fabric, Tear Away, Solvy for embroidering towels Vlisoflex can be very handy
• A notepad and pen

I went to a cooking class with my Country Friends at The Cook’s Room www.thecooksroom.com.au and I thought you would enjoy this soup recipe, it was delicious:

Creamy Zucchini and Broccoli Soup
500g zucchini, sliced
1 head broccoli, chopped
2 small onions, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
20gms butter
1 litre chicken stock
1tsp Worchestershire sauce
½ cup sour cream or crème fraiche
Method
Melt butter over medium heat. Cook the onion for 2-3 minutes, until soft but not brown, add the garlic, cook a minute longer.
Add the stock. Bring to the boil and add the zucchini and broccoli. Bring back to the boil add Worchestershire sauce, reduce the heat to low and simmer till the vegetables are just tender. Chopping the vegetables to a small even dice and not cooking them for any longer than necessary, helps to retain a beautiful pale green colour.
Cool a little before transferring to a blender. Alternatively, use a stick blender in the saucepan for a chunkier texture. Add sour cream, a good squeeze of lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.

God bless all my dear friends
Lynne

July 2009

To All My Dear Friends,

Here it is July already and I have another program which goes to the end of the year. We have Melbourne Cup day which is always enjoyable and you can even make something. There are 3 Christmas Classes on the program and you will make 5 items on the day. I am flexible with the classes even though we may have a definite focus on some days.

There are also 2 weekends of “Sew and Stay”, so let me know early if you want to come.

Because we all love to sew I thought I should give you a list of things you should keep in your sewing bag.

• A variety of Needles,--- crewel chenille, between/ sharps, tapestry
• A few pairs of different Scissors (one of my favourite things) sharp and pointed for cutting threads, Paper and cutting out scissors
• Glass headed pins in a container or pin cushion
• Tape measure and small ruler
• Pure cotton thread, white, cream and black and stranded embroidery threads in colours you love
• A thimble in silver or leather. I love my old sterling silver thimble
• A small and medium sized hoop. I like machine hoops
• 2B and HB pencil and also a chalk pencil, also a biro and notepad
• Quick Unpick or seam ripper as the Americans call them
• Sharp pointed Tweezers are always handy
• Bees wax for strengthening and smoothing threads
• Needle threader is essential in my sewing bag
• Vlisoflex can be very handy
  

If you keep this bag packed you will be ready to stitch.

A Favourite, Easy Cake Recipe - Sticky Date Fudge Cake

This cake has been enjoyed at lunch in the carriage. It is very easy and made in one pot so I promised I would add it to my newsletter.

This recipe is like sticky date pudding and is best served warm as a pudding with a dollop of double cream or ice cream
Can be prepared in 20 mins in one pot
Cooking time 50 minutes
Serves 6-10

Ingredients

• 175g (6oz) stoned dates, chopped
• 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
  
• 85g (3 ½ oz) butter diced
  
• 150g (5oz) brown sugar
  
• 175g (6oz) self-raising flour, sifted
  
• 1 medium free-range egg, beaten
  

For the Fudge Topping

• 50g (20z butter
• 100g (4oz) brown sugar
  
• 75ml (3fl oz double cream
  

To Serve

• Double cream or Ice Cream

Directions

1. Pre heat oven to 180◦ Fan forced 160◦ , Gas Mark 4 Butter and base-line a loose bottomed 18cm (7 inch) deep cake tin
2. Place the dates in a large heavy pan with the bicarbonate of soda and 250ml (9fl oz) boiling water. Heats over a low heat for 4-5 mins until the dates are softened. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, add the sugar and flour, gently combine then stir in the egg
3. Pour into the cake tin and bake for 25mins
4. Place all the topping ingredients in a pan and bring slowly to the boil. Allow to bubble stirring for 2-3 mins
5. After the cake has baked for 25 mins, remove and very slowly pour the topping all over the cake – the reason you pour slowly is so that the cake does not suddenly collapse with the surge of topping! Carefully place back in the oven and continue to bake for a further 25 mins until bubbling and risen
6. Remove and cool for at least 1hr, then carefully transfer to a serving plate
7. Serve warm in bowls with cream or ice cream

Do please visit my new web page and e bay shop. If you want something contact me. I will try to put specials up every month so you will keep visiting.

Patsy Stitching at the Carriage Studio

Smocked Bischop - you can make this at the Studio - it is easy !

March 2009

View from St George Open Air Cinema

It’s hard to believe we are nearly into April but this is a lovely time to stitch as the weather gets cooler.

I am so excited as at last my web page is being upgraded and I will have an on line shop.

We have just had the Camden Show and Carol Colbourne won the section for wool embroidery with an outstanding baby blanket and I won a prize in the heirloom section with a Christening gown, baby dress and my heirloom quilt which is at last finished. It’s never a sure thing so it’s a thrill to win, one never knows what the judges will be looking for.

David and I went to Canberra a few weeks ago to see the Edgar Degas exhibition at the National Gallery. For those of you not familiar with the artist, one of his most famous paintings is “the dance class” and it didn’t disappoint me. The National gallery is always worth a visit so we had a good break and I was able to have my sewing machine serviced in Goulburn.

We also went to the St. George open-air cinema over the January break with Trent and Belinda. If any of you haven’t been it is a spectacular venue situated at Lady Macquaries Chair in Sydney. The night we went it even rained and they gave us a plastic poncho raincoat, to keep us dry.

The classes have started again and I am enjoying seeing you all at the carriage. We have a lot of laughs and there is some beautiful sewing done. If you are thinking of coming we would love to see you.

Belinda had a Saturday lunch party last week and I sent her the very easy orange cake recipe so I am giving it to you again on this newsletter.

 

Very easy Orange Cake and Chocolate Icing

Heat oven to 180 degrees
Grease and line the cake tin ( I use 2 loaf tins)

1 Orange with peel on
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups of self-raising flour
185gms butter (melted)
1 cup castor sugar
Place whole-unpeeled orange in food processor until pureed
Add other ingredients, process until well mixed
Place into greased, lined 18cm cake tin
Bake in pre heated moderate oven for about 50 minutes or until cooked (180 degrees)
Turn cake out onto a rack to cool
Chocolate Glaze which makes the cake a lovely desert cake
130g finely chopped good quality dark chocolate
1/2 cup thickened cream
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Combine in a small saucepan and stir constantly over low heat until melted (so not boil)
Pour over the cake to coat and drizzle down the sides

Carol’s beautiful wool embroidered rug

The heirloom quilt which used lots of my left over laces with many memories. I can see myself in the nursing home with this quilt to keep my knees warm. It's wonderful to have it finished.

Baby's First Dress

The Christening Gown on which I had embroidered "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for such is the kingdom of God" I feel this is so appropriate on a christening gown.